Episode 51: Dahlia Adler
on Writing a Spicy Modern Orthodox Romance
Dahlia Adler’s Five Books:
1. Alan and Naomi by Myron Levoy
2. Playing with Matches by Suri Rosen
3. Biblical Images: Men & Women of the Book by Adin Steinsaltz
4. Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar
5. Soon By You by Dahlia Adler
The Five Books is a podcast that celebrates the role of books in Jewish culture. Through author interviews, we delve into Jewish identity and discover each author’s favorite novels. Join us every week for new Jewish book recommendations! Some of our episodes have included conversations with Rabbi Sharon Brous (Senior Rabbi at IKAR, and author of The Amen Effect), Yael Van Der Wouden (author of The Safekeep), and Dara Horn (author of People Love Dead Jews.)
For feedback or author recommendations please email us at team@fivebookspod.org
The Five Books is a partner organization of Jewish Book Council, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying and celebrating Jewish literature and supporting authors and readers.
The Five Books is fiscally sponsored by FJC, a 501c3 public charity.
Hosted by Tali Rosenblatt Cohen
Produced by Odelia Rubin
Editorial and website support by Amelia Merrill
Artwork by Elad Lifshitz of the Dov Abramson studio
Music by Dov Rosenblatt and Blue Dot Sessions
In this conversation, Dahlia Adler discusses the emotional and cultural terrain of love, identity, and storytelling within and beyond the Modern Orthodox world. We explore the particular pressures and expectations around romance in a community where shared values, observance, and belief are foundational. Dahlia also reflects on her unexpected journey to understanding her own bisexual identity as a result of writing a sapphic romance. And we explore her deep love of flawed characters - from Biblical women, to her own protagonists and her commitment to rendering them with empathy, context and moral complexity.
Dahlia Adler is an award-winning author of romance novels for both teens and adults, a prolific YA anthologist, and the founder of the website LGBTQReads. Her novels include the Kids' Indie Next picks Cool for the Summer,Home Field Advantage, andGoing Bicoastal, a Sydney Taylor Honor book. She lives in the New York City suburbs with her family.
Dahlia’s latest novel, Soon By You, is a rom-com set in the Modern Orthodox community on the Upper West Side.
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
- Esther Chehebar on Marriage, Sisterhood, and the Weight of Tradition
- Jean Meltzer on ‘Jewitches’ and Jewish Joy
- Jessica Elisheva Emerson on Belief, Identity, and Women’s Desire
- Jennifer Weiner on “Women’s Fiction”
Other Media Mentioned:
